Should You Remove Your Graduation Year from Your Resume? Not So Fast!

There’s been a lot of buzz lately about whether job seekers should remove their graduation year from their resumes. A recent Business Insider article, “Why You Should Remove Your Graduation Year From Your Resume,” explores how this strategy can help avoid potential age discrimination. While this might make sense in certain situations, at Brennan Staffing Group, we find that omitting key details—like your graduation year or years of experience—can make the hiring process harder, not easier.

In industries like accounting, finance, and talent acquisition, experience is a major factor in hiring decisions. Employers often look for candidates with a specific number of years in the field, and if a resume doesn’t provide a graduation year or a clear timeline of experience, it can raise more questions than it answers. Instead of eliminating bias, it may cause hiring managers to hesitate or move on to candidates with clearer qualifications.

Age discrimination in hiring is also a real concern, especially for Gen X professionals, many of whom are finding it harder to secure roles despite their extensive experience. As the article points out, some hiring managers may make assumptions based on a graduation year, consciously or unconsciously filtering out candidates they perceive as “too experienced” or “outdated” in their skills. This is particularly frustrating for job seekers who still have 10, 15, or even 20 productive years left in their careers but feel overlooked in favor of younger candidates.

Instead of removing dates altogether, we encourage job seekers to shift the focus to their skills, adaptability, and accomplishments. Highlighting recent training, certifications, and technology proficiencies can help counteract bias and reinforce your value in today’s workforce. Transparency and confidence in your experience—paired with a modern, well-structured resume—can help you stand out for the right reasons.

Trust and Clarity Go a Long Way

At Brennan Staffing Group, we work closely with both job seekers and employers to ensure the best possible matches. When candidates are transparent about their background, it helps us advocate for them more effectively and find roles that align with their experience level. A strong, well-structured resume doesn’t just showcase skills, it builds trust and confidence with hiring teams.

When It Might Make Sense to Leave It Off

That said, there are situations where omitting your graduation year could be beneficial, such as:

• If you’re transitioning into a new industry and want to highlight relevant experience over your degree.
• If you have decades of experience and prefer to focus on recent accomplishments.
• If your graduation year doesn’t directly relate to the role you’re pursuing.

Find the Right Balance

Rather than removing your graduation year entirely, consider structuring your resume to highlight skills, accomplishments, and relevant experience first. If you’re ever unsure, our team at Brennan Staffing Group is happy to review your resume and offer guidance to help you present yourself in the best light.

At the end of the day, employers are looking for qualified candidates who bring value to their team and a well-crafted resume that provides the right details will always stand out more than a strategically omitted date.